Your medicine

Sildenafil citrate is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. It works by relaxing muscles in the walls of the bloodvessels. Sexual stimulation increases the blood flow to the penis. Following sexual stimulation, Sildenafil citrate helps to produce an erection that is suitable for sexual activity.

Sildenafil citrate is not suitable for women or anyone under 18 years of age.

When to take your medicine

Some medicines work best if they are taken at a specific time of day. Getting the most benefit from your medicine can also be affected by what you eat, when you eat and the times at which you take other medicines.

How to take your medicine

Some medicines have specific instructions about how to take them. This is because they work better when taken correctly. These instructions can include getting the right dose and special instructions for preparing the medicine.

If you are having problems taking this form of Sildenafil citrate, you should talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. They may be able to give you advice on other ways to take your medicine or other preparations that are easier for you to take.

Taking too much of your medicine

Taking extra doses of some medicines can be harmful. In some cases even one extra dose can cause you problems. If you take extra doses of your medicine, you must get medical advice immediately. You may need a test to assess the effect of taking extra doses. This is because the effects of taking too much medicine are very complex so it is very important that you seek medical advice.

Looking after your medicine

The instructions on how you should keep your medicine are on the pharmacy label. It is a good idea to keep your medicine in the original container. This will help to keep your medicine in the best condition and also allow you to check the instructions. Do not take the medicine if the packaging appears to have been tampered with or if the medicine shows any signs of damage. Make sure that the medicine is out of the sight and reach of children.

Whether this medicine is suitable for you

Sildenafil citrate is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.

Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:

Over time it is possible that Sildenafil citrate can become unsuitable for some people, or they may become unsuitable for it. If at any time it appears that Sildenafil citrate has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.

Very common: More than 1 in 10 people who take Sildenafil citrate:

Common: More than 1 in 100 people who take Sildenafil citrate:

blocked nose

eye or eyesight problems including problems with colour vision or sensitivity to light, blurred or double vision, myopia, enlargement of the pupil or visual field defect. Stop taking Sildenafil citrate and seek immediate medical advice if you suddenly develop eye or eyesight problems

If you feel unwell or if you have concerns about a side-effect, you will need to seek advice. If you feel very ill, get medical help straight away. Contact your prescriber, pharmacist, nurse or call 111.

You should see how this medicine affects you before you judge whether you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt about whether you should drive or operate machinery, talk to your prescriber.

Breast-feeding

Ingredients of your medicine

Medicines contain active ingredients. They may also contain other, additional ingredients that help ensure the stability, safety and effectiveness of the medicine. They are also added to improve the medicine's taste and appearance and to make it easier to take. Some may be used to prolong the life of the medicine.

We are unable to list all of the ingredients for your medicine here. For a full list, you should refer to the patient information leaflet that comes with this medicine. You should check that you are able to take the ingredients of your medicine, especially if you have any allergies. You should also check whether any of these ingredients are known to have side-effects.

If you are not able to take any of the ingredients in your medicine, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist to see if they can suggest an alternative medicine. If you have reacted badly to Sildenafil citrate before, do not take Sildenafil citrate. Talk to your prescriber, pharmacist or nurse as soon as possible.